Mike Wise meets Obama, part III

Unless I'm forgetting something, the current President of this country has been to three sporting events in the city since he became boss: Bulls-Wizards, Oregon State-George Washington and Duke-Georgetown.

What do these events have in common? All were basketball games. And at each game, Obama ended up shaking hands with a large, bald Washington Post sports columnist.

So when CBS's coverage of Duke-Georgetown Saturday afternoon mentioned Obama for the first time, was there any doubt at all that he would be shown in an embrace with Mike Wise? How Verne Lundquist failed to mention the second man in the frame, I'll never understand. Don't you think national viewers were curious about the goateed man in the sweater-vest rubbing chests with the leader of the free world, Verne? The full video's all the way below. It's majestic.

* The press pool report is amazingly amazing. It also refers to the start of the game as "kick-off."

Seated in a cushioned folding chair mere feet from the basketball court, POTUS studiously remained dispassionate and impartial even as fans of the Georgetown University team all around him went absolutely berserk. Just to his left was a line of shirtless students smeared with gray and blue body paint, some wearing frenzied blue wigs and screaming like they were possessed.

"Listen, obviously two great teams. I have been impressed at least in the first half by the guards for Georgetown - big, strong guys. They have been able to keep [Jon] Scheyer out of, you know, out from having to shoot a lot of threes contested. They have been a little sloppy in the second half and Duke's picked up, so it will be interesting to see how things turn out."

* Obama's next D.C. sports engagement might be set. Yes, it's another basketball game at Verizon. Chris Duhon has invited Reggie Love, "his best friend from Duke, and Obama to attend the Knicks-Wizards game next month at Verizon Center," the New York Post reported this week. Enough with the basketball, already.

* Coach K may have been referring to Obama when he discussed the raucous crowd. "Whenever when we're in anyone's place, the atmosphere is pretty good," Krzyzewski said via the D!scourse blog. "If you invite us to your party, usually people want to have a good time at it."

Enough with the Hoops Mr. President, take in a Caps game and feel the real passion of this city. I know this a B-Ball town and if the Wiz ever get hot it will be again, but there is nothing like the VC on Caps game night!!!!! The most energized and crazy fan base in sports. GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!

Steinz, you know I love your work and am also a fan of Wise. But I can't believe you have written this story up 3 times...this is not news. A local sports columnist shaking hands with the president at a local game is just not very noteworthy.

I think this has more to do with you and Wise being fans of Obama. I get that, and you should be very proud to meet the president, etc, especially he's you're guy and you voted for him. But I just don't see why this is worth reporting on.

The second I saw Wise on CBS with Obama, I immediately thought of you, Dan, and started checking for the related Bog post.

Contrary to Barno's opinion, smart reporters latch on to stories at their origins, not after the fact. Steinberg realizes that Wise repeatedly popping up in the President's face will not end well. Pretty soon, Obama will tell the Secret Service to keep Wise away from him, after some investigating into Wise's checkered past, the Secret Service will notify the FBI, Wise will end up on the terror watch list and eventually in Guantanamo.

Presidents at sporting events have always been a great tradition of this city, one that was destroyed when we lost the Senators in the day. Maybe some recent schmuck presidents ruined it but if not for presidents attending sporting events in DC we would not have the 7th inning stretch. So to make my argument short. Go F*** yourself haters of politics and sports mixing right.

In all honesty, Obama showing up at that game really just demonstrates how out of touch he is. I mean, his administration is falling apart, people are p.o.ed, and his response is to publicly goof off instead of doing his job. Maybe he has decided not to run for a second term and just doesn't care any more.